Artificial Nail Replacement Device For Fashion and Aesthetics

ABSTRACT

An artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics having an outer sheath having an interior portion, an exterior portion, a proximal end and a distal end, an artificial nail attached to the distal end of the outer sheath and an opening in the proximal end of the sheath for placing the device over a user&#39;s appendage. The artificial nail is preferably made from acrylic. The outer sheath can have one or more than one filler pad attached to the interior portion for the user&#39;s comfort. Additionally, the outer sheath can have vents for breathability and perspiration control.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/523,304, filed on 2021 Nov. 10, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the technical field of beauty products and more particularly to an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics.

BACKGROUND

The are many artificial nail products on the market today. Unfortunately, they all assume that any user of their products has a complete set of nails, or fingertips for that matter. The current products on the market do not allow for any deformities or abnormalities in their users. Everyone must be similar to use these products.

However, there are many people that have lost finger nails, toe nails, and parts of their finger/toe tips for many reasons. Aesthetically speaking these users don't have any options when it comes to the current conventional crop of artificial nail products. Nor do many of them have any option at all for trying to maintain a sense of pride and normalcy for a simple thing such as nail polish or any nail beauty treatment.

Additionally, there are busy people that cannot take the time to go to a salon, but need to have aesthetically looking nails. There are currently press on nails and other alternatives, however, they are not as easy to use as just slipping on the present invention described herein. Further, most press on nails have to be removed with a fair amount of force that can cause pain to the user, or need extra time to be removed. That is not the case with the present invention. The device can slip on and off in a matter of seconds. Aditionally, gel type artificial nail damage the user's natural nail and cannot be used by those people that do not have a nail. Acrylic nails are also problematic as a user without a nail or that portion of a finger or toe, has no place to attach the nail.

Therefore, there is a need for an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics, overcoming the limitations of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics. The devices accomplish this by using a stretchable transparent finger/toe tip, similar to rubber finger tips used for turning pages or counting money. An artificial nail is placed on the device so that the user has a complete set of finger/toe nails. The user can then attach any available nail product on the device or have the artificial nail polished/painted to whatever the user desires. The artificial nail can be carefully cleaned with nail polish remover without destroying the artificial nail. Some caution will be needed by the user so as not to affect the stretchable portions of the device. The devices are transparent and thin so they will work on any user without the need for color matching skin tones. The user's own skin tone will be visible through the device material, except, of course, the artificial nail portion, thereby alleviating the need for hundreds of different pantones of artificial nails and devices.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics as worn according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the artificial nail replacement device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are two bottom views of the artificial nail replacement device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are two left side views of the artificial nail replacement device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are two right side views of the artificial nail replacement device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7A and FIG. 6B are two front views of the artificial nail replacement device of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are two rear views of the artificial nail replacement device of FIG. 1 .

SUMMARY

The limitations of the prior art are overcome by an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics. The device has an outer sheath with an interior portion, an exterior portion, a proximal end and a distal end. There is an artificial nail attached to the distal end of the outer sheath, and an opening in the proximal end of the sheath for placing the device over a user's appendage.

The outer sheath is made from an elastomer, such as, for example, silicone, alginate or polyurethane rubber. Preferably, the outer sheath is silicone. Optionally, there are one or more than one vent through the interior portion and the exterior portion of the outer sheath. The opening is various sizes depending on the appendage the user is placing the device over. The outer sheath is also transparent so that the user's natural skin tones can be seen through the outer sheath increasing the aesthetic value to the user. The outer shell is less than or equal to 2 mm in thickness for more visible applications, the outer shell is greater than 2 mm in thickness where visibility is not as important to the user. The outer shell has a tapered edge at the proximal end, near the opening, to more naturally blend in with the appendage the device is placed upon to make the transition from the device to the user's natural skin less noticeable to third parties.

The artificial nail is constructed from gel, acrylic, silk, epoxy, wood, marble, or stone. Preferably, the artificial nail is acrylic for resilliancy and durability. The artificial nail are various sizes to match different users. Optionally, the artificial nail is removable and re-attachable to the device, so that the user can change the artificial nail quickly. Normally, the artificial nail has a neutral, natural nail color to most closely match the user's other nails.

The also has one or more than one internal filler pad that can be standard or customized to be inserted into the interior portion of the outer sheath by the user. A first filler pad also has one or more than one vent to match the one or more than one vent in the outer sheath and to support the appendage for the user's comfort and aesthetics. A second filler pad is transparent and solid to match the outer sheath and to support the appendage for the user's comfort and aesthetics. The one or more than one filler pad is constructed from the same material as the outer sheath.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics.

All dimensions specified in this disclosure are by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting. Further, the proportions shown in these Figures are not necessarily to scale. As will be understood by those with skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, the actual dimensions and proportions of any system, any device or part of a system or device disclosed in this disclosure will be determined by its intended use.

Methods and devices that implement the embodiments of the various features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. In addition, the first digit of each reference number indicates the figure where the element first appears.

As used in this disclosure, except where the context requires otherwise, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising”, “comprises” and “comprised” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

In the following description, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Well-known structures and techniques may not be shown in detail in order not to obscure the embodiments.

In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments of the invention.

The term “silicone” as used herein refers to any elastomer or elastomeric material that is stretchable and resilient to wear.

The term “artificial nail” refers to gel, acrylic, and silk nails are widely used in the prior art.

The term “appendage” refers to a user's finger or toe.

Various embodiments provide an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics. One embodiment of the present invention provides an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics. In another embodiment, there is provided a method for using the an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics. The an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics and its associated method will now be disclosed in detail.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an artificial nail replacement device 100 for fashion and aesthetics, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, the artificial nail replacement device 100 comprises an artificial nail 102, there are one or more than one vent 104, an outer sheath 106 and an opening 108 for placing the device 100 over a user's fingers or toe.

The artificial nail 102 can be made from any available material that is suitable to the task. Preferably, the artificial nail 102 is made from acrylic. The optional vent 104 are used to keep the user comfortable in hot weather and are not needed in many situations. The present invention allows the user to choose the best option for themselves without the limitations of the prior art.

The outer sheath 106 is comprised of any elastomer suitable to the task. Generally, the elastomer will be silicone due to its elastic and other desirable attributes. However, for those users that are allergic to silicone, alternatives, such as, for example, alginate or polyurethane rubber, can be used to manufacture the device 100.

The opening 108 is of various sizes depending on the finger or toe that the user is placing the device upon as discussed below.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , there is shown a view of the artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics as worn 200 according to one embodiment. As can be seen, the device 100 is shown placed on a user's foot 202 on the user's large toe. As will be understood by those with skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, the size and thickness of the outer sheath 106 and the opening 108 have been exaggerated for clarity. Additionally, the artificial nail 102 will be of various sizes depending on the user's preferences. Also, this disclosure is not meant to limit the device and its uses to a single toe. It is contemplated that one or more than on finger, one or more than one toe or both one or more than one finger and one or more than one toe can have a device 100 placed over them.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , there is shown a top view 300 of the artificial nail replacement device. The artificial nail 102 has several options as used with the device 100. First, the artificial nail can be pre-attached to the device in generic sizes for immediate use. Alternatively, the device can comprise a kit with one or more than one artificial nail that the user can attach to the device 100. The pre-attached nails will be available in a variety of colors, sizes and styles so that the user can match their natural nails more closely. The artificial nail 102 is made from acrylic, gel, epoxy, resin, silk or any other suitable substance that functions as a natural human nail. Preferably, the artificial nail 102 is acrylic.

The kit option provides one or more than one nail size, and one or more than one nail color and an adhesive to permanently attach the artificial nail 102 to the outer sheath 106 in the appropriate location. The outer sheath, in this option, comprises an indent where the artificial nail 102 is to be attached. In another embodiment, the outer sheath has no indents and the user is free to place the artificial nail 102 at any location on the outer sheath 106. The adhesive is formulated to be non-destructive to the outer sheath 106 and permanently attach the artificial nail 102 to the outer sheath 106.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, there is shown two bottom views 400 of the artificial nail replacement device. FIG. 4A the outer sheath 106 comprises one or more than one vent 402, 404, and 406. In this embodiment, the one or more than one vent 402-406 are useful for air flow or liquid flow to and from the device 100. For extended wear and comfort, the user may decide to select a device 100 with air vents for comfort. The one or more than one vent 402-406 is useful for any water situation that the user may experience. For example, if the user is boating, the one or more than one vent 402-406 would allow any water that was present on the inside of the device 100 to flow out without the need for the user to remove the device 100. The water would be expelled from the device through the one or more than one vent 402-406.

FIG. 4B shows a transparent solid outer sheath 408. The transparent solid outer sheath 408 is transparent so that the user's natural skin tones can be seen through the transparent solid outer sheath 408. This prevents the user from having to use a device 100 that does not match the user's skin. Any makeup or cosmetics that the user uses on their hands or feet will also show through the transparent solid outer sheath 408. The transparent solid outer sheath 408 provides better aesthetics and provides confidence to the user that the device 100 will be as unnoticeable as possible while in use.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, there is shown two left side views 500 of the artificial nail replacement device. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are side views of the device 100 with a first filler pad 502 and a second filler pad 504 inside the device 100. In order to cover as many users as possible, and the variety of finger/toe situations, the device 100 further comprises one or more than one internal filler pad 502 and 504 that can be standard or custom made and inserted into the device by the user. A first filler pad 502 is used with an outer sheath 106 that comprises the one or more than one vent 402-406. The first filler pad 502 can optionally have one or more than one vent (not shown) through the first filler pad 502 to support the functionality described above.

A second filler pad 504 is used with the transparent solid outer sheath 408 and functions to support the appendage for both the user's comfort and aesthetics.

Both the first filler pad 502 and the second filler pad 504 are constructed from the same transparent material as the outer sheath 106 to blend into a more natural look for the user.

Optionally, depending on the user's preferences, the first and second filler pads 502 and 504 respectively, can be made from a soft silicone for comfort. Alternatively, the first and second filler pads 502 and 504 can be made in a harder and more solid silicone if the user needs the additional support for that particular appendage filler pad 504. In the kit version, there is provided one or more than one mold and template making material, so that the user can construct the exact filler pad 502 or 504 that the user wants and that conforms to the user's own particular situation.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, there is shown two right side views 600 of the artificial nail replacement device. FIG. 6A is a side view of the device 100 where a functional filler portion 602 is provided for those user's that have lost the tips of one or more than one appendage. In this embodiment, the functional filler portion 602 can provide additional structure to the particular appendage that is missing and return the user to a more “normal” appearance without the need for prosthetics.

FIG. 6B is a view of an aesthetic filler pad 604 that is useful for situations where only a small portion of an appendage is missing, such as, for example, the tip of a finger. In these situations, there isn't a need for more support, but aesthetically, it would be important for the user to have a complete finger/toe end. In many situation when the tip of a finger or toe is lost, the nail is compromised to removed, so this embodiment covers that situation for the user.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, there is shown two front views 700 of the artificial nail replacement device. FIG. 7A is a front view of the device 100 with the one or more than one vent 402-406 and an attached hard artificial nail 702. FIG. 7B is a front view of the device 100 with the transparent outer sheath 408 and a soft flexible artificial nail 704 attached thereto. The hard artificial nail 702 is useful when the user is attaching commercially available artificial nails that are sold to the hard artificial nail 702 of the device 100. Additionally, the user could opt to paint the hard artificial nail 702 with nail polish and would be able to remove the nail polish with standard nail polish remover.

The soft flexible artificial nail 704 is used to provide a natural looking nail and to make the device 100 easier to put on. The entire device 100 is flexible in this embodiment. The outer sheath 106 and the soft flexible artificial nail 704 are molded into a single, flexible device 100 for those situations where the user wants to show the world a nail, but does not need to dress the nail. In this embodiment, the soft flexible artificial nail 704 has a neutral, natural nail color to most closely match the user's other nails.

As will be understood by those with skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, the hard artificial nail 702 and the soft flexible artificial nail 704 are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and lengths. The user can choose a close cut artificial nail, or a longer artificial nail to match the users other fingers or toes or whatever aesthetic that the user wants to achieve using the device 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, there is shown two rear views 800 of the artificial nail replacement device. FIG. 8A shows the outer shell 106 with thicker silicone over in thickness. This embodiment is for those users that want a sturdier, longer lasting device 100 that may not provide the natural look of the user's finger or toe. FIG. 8B shows the outer shell 106 with thinner silicone less than or equal to 0.2 mm in thickness. Additionally both the thicker and thinner outer shells 802 and 804 have tapered edges to more naturally blend in with the finger or toe that the device 100 is placed upon to make the transition from the device 100 to the user's natural skin less noticeable to third parties.

The thicker outer shell 802 is useful for comfort and grip on the appendage. The thinner outer shell 804 is more useful when aesthetically appearances are more important to the user.

What has been described is a new and improved system for an artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics, overcoming the limitations and disadvantages inherent in the related art.

Although the present invention has been described with a degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that other versions are possible. As various changes could be made in the above description without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be illustrative and not used in a limiting sense. The spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained in this disclosure.

All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstracts, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means” for performing a specified function or “step” for performing a specified function should not be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An artificial nail replacement device for fashion and aesthetics, the device comprising: a) an outer sheath having an interior portion, an exterior portion, a proximal end and a distal end; b) an artificial nail attached to the distal end of the outer sheath; and c) an opening in the proximal end of the sheath for placing the device over a user's appendage.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath comprises an elastomer.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath comprises an elastomer selected from the group consisting of silicone, alginate or polyurethane rubber.
 4. The device of claim 6, wherein the outer sheath is silicone.
 5. The device of claim 4, further comprising one or more than one vent through the interior portion and the exterior portion of the outer sheath.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein the opening is various sizes depending on the appendage the user is placing the device over.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is transparent so that the user's natural skin tones can be seen through the outer sheath.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is less than or equal to 2 mm in thickness.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is greater than 2 mm in thickness.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a tapered edge at the proximal end, near the opening, to more naturally blend in with the appendage the device is placed upon to make the transition from the device to the user's natural skin less noticeable to third parties.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the artificial nail is selected from the group consisting of gel, acrylic, silk, epoxy, wood, marble, or stone.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the artificial nail is acrylic.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the artificial nail are various sizes.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the artificial nail is removable and re-attachable to the device.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the artificial nail has a neutral, natural nail color to most closely match the user's other nails.
 16. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more than one internal filler pad that can be standard or customized to be inserted into the interior portion of the outer sheath by the user.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein a first filler pad comprises one or more than one vent to match the one or more than one vent in the outer sheath and to support the appendage for the user's comfort and aesthetics.
 18. The device of claim 16, wherein a second filler pad is transparent and solid to match the outer sheath and to support the appendage for the user's comfort and aesthetics.
 19. The device of claim 16, wherein the one or more than one filler pad is constructed from the same material as the outer sheath. 